Sobitha Thero is a National Hero!

The sudden demise of Sri Lanka’s most respected Maduluwawe Sobitha Nayaka Thero has come as a shock to us. An iconic national leader, the Thera would be best remembered for boldly ushering, together with a number of other patriots, a regime change in the country from one of decadence to dignity.

As a Buddhist monk of repute he played a significant role in influencing the entire country, giving courage and confidence to the people of all walks of life, that the then powerful government could be democratically ousted. This he achieved with the leadership of then Minister, Maithripala Sirisena, then Leader of the Opposition, Ranil Wickremesinghe, Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunge, Athuraliye Rathane Thero, Dr. Rajitha Senaratne and a number of other civil and religious leaders from all the political parties.

We are aware of the innumerable challenges and obstacles that the respected monk had to face in reaching the target he had set to achieve. Indeed if this mission had failed Sri Lanka would have undergone political and economic turmoil including internationally mandated economic sanctions. Sobitha Thero’s death reminds us of the inestimable value of what was avoided more than what was achieved thereafter.

The National United Front (NUF) remembers with deep gratitude the painstaking and relentless role the respected monk played in uniting civil and religious groups together with political forces to provide Sri Lankans a better country to live in. Indeed Maduluwawe Sobitha Nayake Thero was a great Buddhist national hero.